All You Need Is Love

Where's John

YEAR: 1958

"I TRIED SHAKING HER! SHES NOT MOVING!" Jude was freaking out, and so was I; I heard Paul running up the stairs.
"Whats wrong?"

I pointed to mum; Paul leaned down and put his finger under her nose to see if she was breathing. She wasn't. Jude came to me and started crying into my shoulder. I led her out. Paul went downstairs to call an ambulance. They arrived a few minutes after the phone call. They came upstairs and took my mum to the morgue.

"What are we gonna do now!" I cried. Paul was craddling me on the couch and Jude locked herself in her room.
"I'd say come live with me but my dad has enough trouble takin care if me and my brother, adding another person wouldn't work."
"I know, thanks for the offer though Paulie." He rubbed my shoulder as I was still crying. "I'm gonna call George, he should be here for Jude." I got up at called George. He ran over and knocked on the door.
"Where is she?"he sounded nervous, I could tell he was scared for her.
"Upstairs." He ran past me and knocked on her door.
"Jude open up!" She opened up her door and as soon as she did George gave her the biggest hug known to man. She cried into his shoulder. He walked in and they laid on her bed. He cuddled her and he never wanted to let go. I laid back down with Paul.
"What am I gonna do?"
"I dunno love."

***

"John I dunno what I'm gonna do. If I don't find somewhere to live by next Monday, Jude and I will be separated and sent to childrens homes."
"Why don't ye stay with me? We've got extra rooms."
"What would Mimi think?"
"She'd understand. Just come by on Friday, I'll have everything ready."
"John, ye givin me and Jude 4 days to get everythin together?"
"Yeah, sorry love, I'd give ye more time if ye had it."
"Very funny." He gave me a smile.
"Get to class."
"It was nice talkin to ye John. Thanks for listenin." I have him a faint smile and walked into class.

The school day was slow and boring. At the end of the day Paul and George walked home with Jude and I. It took about 10 minutes to get home. I opened the door, Jude and I walked in, shutting and locking the door behind us. I did my homework, she sat in her room and sulked.

"Hey Jude," I knocked on her door and walked in. "Listen, John said that we could live at his aunts house, we have until Friday. So get packing." Jude wasn't happy about it, but she did it because she knew she didn't have a choice.
"I don't want to move."
"I know ye don't...neither do I."
"I'll be farther away from George!"
"I know, but what other option do we have."
"At least you'll still have Paul!"
"I wouldn't be to sure." She looked up at me.
"Why not?"
"Moving in with John? I'm lucky of Paul will even talk to me after he finds out."
"YE HAVEN'T TOLD HIM YET!" I shook my head no while wiping a tear from my eye.
"Just c'mon, get packin."

The week went by slowly. I don't think Jude cared, she was spending her final moments living close to George.

"Jude, its Friday, ye all packed?" She nodded, as she cried. We heard a knock at the door. I went downstairs to see who it was; it was George with his mums car.
"Jude told me ye were movin. The least I could do was provide transport."
"Thank ye."
"Don't mention it."

It took a few minutes to put all out stuff in the car. George drove us to Johns house. The car ride was rather silent. George was driving, he had just gotten his license, and Jude was in the passenger seat, holding Georges hand the entire ride. We arrived about 20 minutes later. Mimi's house was huge. Jude and I walked up to the door, George was still in the car. We knocked and waited for someone to answer; Mimi answered.

"Whatever yer selling it's no."
"What? No, Mimi its me, Michelle. We met at Lucy's shop a while back."
"Ah yes come in. This must be yer sister."
"Nice to meet ye. Thank ye so much for lettin us live here."
"It's my pleasure. Do ye need any help with yer bags?"
"No thank ye we got thenm. Also George is gonna help us."
"Alright, if ye need anything, let me know."
"Thank ye Mimi." It took us a while to bring our stuff in and upstairs. We both got out own rooms.
"Where's John?"
"Oi, um, last I heard he's livin with his mother. I'm sorry dear what's yer name?"
"Jude."
"Ah well Jude, I don't think he'll be back any time soon." Jude nodded and walked into her new room. George was in there, already unloading some boxes. Mimi walked into my room.
"Hello Michelle."
"Oh hi Mimi."
"George is helping Jude, where's Paul helpin you?"
"Oh um, he doesn't know I moved here."
"When are ye gonna tell him?"
"When John comes back."
"That may take a while dear."
"I know John pretty well, he should be home in a few days."
"Don't be too sure."
"It's almost like ye don't want him to come back."
"I'd love for John to return, its just that I don't think he will." I could tell, she was struggling to hold on her tears. "Dinner will be ready in an hour. Don't miss it."
"I won't. Thank ye."

Dinner was quite. No one wanted to speak. Half way through dinner the phone rang. Mimi got up and answered it.

"Hello?" It was silent for a while. "Michelle, it's for you." I got up and went to the phone.
"Hello?"
"Hi love."
"John? Where are ye?"
"Blackpool, with my mum."
"Blackpool? Isn't it dangerous?"
"Not all parts of it love, just the part where you lived."
"When are ye comin back?"
"I'm not sure."
"Please come back John. Mimi needs you."
"I know. I have to go now love."
"Bye." He hung up without a word. I walked back into the dining room.
"What did John want?" Mimi asked.
"Not sure, I'm goin to bed."
"Its hardly dark out."
"I know, I just, need to go to bed."
"Alright. Good night."
"Night Mimi."

Jude didn't say anything. I could tell it would take her a long time to adapt. I woke up the next morning and walked down the creaky stairs.

"Mimi, what are ye doin?"
"Visiting George's grave."
"I'm sorry for askin but whose George?"
"My dearly departed husband."
"I'm sorry I asked."
"Don't be, ye didn't know."
"I'll be back before noon."

She walked out of the house with a basket of flowers. I went to the kitchen and grabbed and apple. I went upstairs to explore the house. I didn't bother going in Jude's room, I knew she was still sleeping, or sulking, or something I don't want to be apart of. I wandered into Johns old room and I found John.